Hailing from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Sheikh Insha started a venture ‘Raani Spices’ soon after completing her bachelor’s in Physical Education. Initially she started a small unit with her two siblings to make quality homemade food items. After receiving the positive response, Insha’s office-cum-food unit at Nowgam in the city outskirts employs over two dozen people.

The young entrepreneur says success is just a step away for a determined person. “No profession is inferior and cannot bar a person from attaining new heights of success if pursued with professionalism, zeal, and dedication,” she adds.

It was in 2017 Insha came up with an idea of making some homemade items like pickles and bread. Gradually she added more homemade items.

“Today our venture is making homemade rotis, Achar, pure dahi, spices, Kheer, Makki Sout (roasted corn flour) and other items with the help of 23-girls and other team members who ensure the services into the markets across the valley,” she says.

When asked what prompted her to start the venture, she says “My father who had a little income to fulfill the domestic needs of the family believed in me to come up with something new to provide a helping hand to the family in tough times.”

She said during Ramadan, her mother used to prepare roti and achar which was widely loved by her friends. “After realizing their wide demand, we decided to start something on the same lines for earning livelihood for the family and providing employment to others as well.”

During her school days, she says, she along with her sisters and other team members used to market their homemade products in educational institutions and received good response. “We got surprised when female folk in schools and colleges not only praised our efforts of making homemade items but purchased them which encouraged us to move ahead”, she adds.

“I was a novice in this venture but gradually with hard work and positive response of buyers motivated me to introduce more homemade items.”

Providing details, Insha said currently “our homemade items have a wide range of demand across the valley which is the proof of my success in the endeavour.  We supplying 600 packets of Makki Roti, 1500 pots of pure dahi, 400 packets of Makki Sout, besides hundreds of packets of pickle and spices on daily basis.”

She believes commitment and hard work is the key to success. “Youth should come forward and opt for innovative ways to earn their livelihood and provide employment to others.”

“In times of unemployment and drug menace, our youth should realize the sensitivity of the situation. Drugs consume not only the person who takes it but also the future of a nation. Let us commit ourselves to do something and start a new chapter of life,” she adds.